Can anyone tell me why the LC does not celebrate Christmas? My friend in the church I noticed does not celebrate Easter as well. However, they do celebrate the "american" holidays like the 4th, New Years Eve, Valentine's, and Thanksgiving (not halloween strictly).

Does anyone have any explanations for these?

There are various reasons given. Mostly they point to the kinds of strained lines that others have drawn between pagan practices and what is now Christmas. They even note the fact that Santa rearranges into Satan. Of course, in the language from which the name came, Santa is the word for Saint, so this is simply a grasping at straws to create a barrier between themselves and others. And, like others before them, they make it with such certainty and arrogance so that they underscore their self-righteousness with their own bravado.

12-25-2014 06:51 AM

awareness

Re: Marry CHRISTmas

Quote:

Originally Posted by countmeworthy

In an nutshell, "Christmas" and "Easter" are pagan holidays borrowed by the religious folks back in the day.

We call them pagan (derogatorily) ... and perhaps they were. But actually early man recognized these were major times of importance to them and their survival :

1) Christmas: The renewal, or rebirth, of the Sun. When the days start getting longer. That's Dec. 21 today, but was Dec 25th back then. Moreover, even back then they prolly suffered from -->S.A.D<--. So ... Man were they happy the sun was coming back around.

2) Easter: The beginning of Spring time, and time to start planting the crops. The Easter Bunny and the Easter eggs are obvious to this, as meaning, fertility and fecundity.

Constantine back in the days of the Council of Nicaea (325CE) -- a Sun god worshiper that made Christianity the state religion (official birth time of the Roman Catholic Church) -- established these times as the birth and resurrection of Jesus. Both related to celestial events. The birth of Jesus at the time of the rebirth of the sun, and Easter as the first Sunday after the first Full Moon after the spring equinox.

The names of the days and months also come from these pagan influences, but are another story. Google it ... and learn for yourself.

12-24-2014 08:54 PM

rayliotta

Re: Marry CHRISTmas

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Can anyone tell me why the LC does not celebrate Christmas? My friend in the church I noticed does not celebrate Easter as well. However, they do celebrate the "american" holidays like the 4th, New Years Eve, Valentine's, and Thanksgiving (not halloween strictly).

Does anyone have any explanations for these?

Well, some folks may celebrate all of these (a few rogue LC members may even get away w/celebrating Christmas on the down low, at least occasionally!).

But truth be told, the Summer Training competes w/July 4th, and the Thanksgiving Day Weekend Conference competes with...Thanksgiving Day. That doesn't meet that people can't celebrate them. But now that the internet allows for simulcasts, I think the pressure to decide between family time and church obligations has increased a little. (Or at least, there may be a need to rearrange Thanksgiving dinner schedules to fit the meetings in.)

(But as we all know, Jesus came to divide families, not to unite them...see Matt. 10:35 for clarification.)

As for Valentine's, that can be a bit tricky when some elders require approval to even ask a woman out for ice cream. (And even in localities where the elders don't require approval, a lot of people in their locality believe that they do. Not sure why.)

And lastly, as for New Year's Eve, I once spent it pray reading Living Stream Ministry publications w/"the college brothers." Sheesh.

12-24-2014 04:24 PM

countmeworthy

Re: Marry CHRISTmas

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Can anyone tell me why the LC does not celebrate Christmas? My friend in the church I noticed does not celebrate Easter as well. However, they do celebrate the "american" holidays like the 4th, New Years Eve, Valentine's, and Thanksgiving (not halloween strictly).

Does anyone have any explanations for these?

In an nutshell, "Christmas" and "Easter" are pagan holidays borrowed by the religious folks back in the day. They also don't say 'Sunday'. They say 'The Lord's day'...as if none of the other days are 'pagan' Monday..(moonday) Saturday (Saturn day) etc. Also every day is the LORD'S DAY.

This is the DAY the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it says the Psalmist in Psalm 118:24. And I'm sure that particular day was not only the Sabbath, but EVERY DAY.

12-24-2014 12:37 PM

Unregistered

Re: Marry CHRISTmas

Can anyone tell me why the LC does not celebrate Christmas? My friend in the church I noticed does not celebrate Easter as well. However, they do celebrate the "american" holidays like the 4th, New Years Eve, Valentine's, and Thanksgiving (not halloween strictly).

Does anyone have any explanations for these?

12-24-2014 11:51 AM

countmeworthy

Marry CHRISTmas

Hi everyone,

While we know that Jesus Christ our Savior Messiah was not born on December 25th, thank God He is not legalistic or religious ! In this chaotic and sin laden world that is continuously becoming darker, it is the one eve/day of the year that believers commemorate and celebrate our DEAR SAVIOR'S BIRTH! All except for the LC and JW's.

Halleluiah that God sent His Word, Jesus to us. And He was born as a baby. Who cannot ADORE a BABY? He was fully HUMAN. He was breast fed by Mary and peed and pooped. Something we don't think about. The only reason I bring it up is for us to remember our Almighty God was a real Baby Boy at one time. He cooed and smiled and cried. He was comforted by His mother Mary and Joseph His earthly father.

I love our Lord Jesus. We all do.

This year GOD put a special place in my heart for Christmas EVE. Please know it is has always been just another day since becoming a Christian through the LC. The LC took away our JOY of commemorating our Savior's FIRST coming.

In some ways, I was relieved not to be obligated to the commercialism of it all. I don't have a family of my own (husband, kids) but I have my pets and good friends that are real 'family', baggage, drama and all. So I am Thankful I am not lonely. Even if I were, I know I have a Great Best Friend and the Love of my soul in me and with me everywhere I go.

Moving on.
The Holy Spirit changed my perspective about Christmas a couple of weeks ago. Not that I am 'decking the halls'. Nothing outwardly.

It began July 28, 2013 in the wee hours of the night with a vision/dream as I was sleeping. All I saw was 4 words: Away in a manger. I prayed and asked the Lord to show me why I saw those words. I did not receive any revelation or insight to speak of.

Then 2 months ago, I had another dream. I was riding a bike on a country road as fast as I could to a small town. Upon arriving, I secured my bike and walked around looking for something or someone. Not sure what I was looking for. After looking around, I returned to my bike only to find it gone. It had disappeared. I had no means of getting around now or go back to where I came from. Just then I ran into someone who invited me to their home and as I walked in I saw 2 Christmas trees. There was also a room full of people. I supposed they were all believers as there were 2 people I recognized. Both from the LC. I don't know why I dreamed of them because I have not seen either of them in decades! End of the dream.

But that dream was very insightful.

Moving on.
Me and some friends have been going over 2 Kings 1-2. Elijah and Elisha are walking together when a Whirlwind (tornado - twister) came with a chariot of horses that seemed like they were on fire.

I also happened to listen to a message called 'The meaning of RED in Christmas'. It was all about the Blood of Jesus from Gen - Rev. Around the same, I watched a you tube where the brother in Christ shared a dream he had in which he saw a red sleigh. The dream was not actually about Christmas though. It was a rapture dream. For anyone interested, here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l1n9fPdDWc

Suddenly I had all kinds of revelations. Remember Elijah went up on a chariot? Quite similar to a sleigh don't you think?
Now.. for as long as I can remember, Santa Clause was 'Satan' in disguise. You've all heard the stories.
The unbelievers celebrate Santa Clause and believers celebrate both Jesus' Birth and Santa Clause except for the LC and Jehovah Witnesses LOL.

After considering 2 Kings ch 2, my dreams and Mark's dream in the you tube, I recalled how Jesus is described in Revelation 1:13-14. Hair as WHITE AS SNOW and His Robe to His Feet.

I could interpret the dreams, the insights, the revelation but I will leave you with this thought about the 2 Christmas trees. Jesus came into this world as a baby Lamb of God. He is returning as a LION from the Tribe of Judah. By all accounts He was born in the midnight hour for the shepherd boys and the Wise men followed a STAR...actually a comet which is seen at night. Why do I think it was a comet? The Christmas song, Do you see what I see? Says:A star, a STAR dancing in the night with a TAIL as big as a kite. With a TAIL as big as a kite . A comet has a tail.

God's Promise is the KING is coming again. Matthew 25:6 tells us at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

Ha-ha.. Jesus was born at midnight and He is coming at midnight. Not saying it's tonight. Plus it is also possible the significance of midnight means the darkness of this evil age.

In any case,
God has given me a new perspective for this Blessed Season.